Wire-testing and measuring apparatus



April 14, 1959 R, SHEETS 2,882,490

WIRE-TESTING AND MEASURING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 28, 1 955 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 C. R. SHEETS WIRE-TESTING AND MEASURING APPARATUS Filed Deo. 28, 1955 April 14, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INI /ENTOR BY Mmes/Hrs W ma@ #Tram/IY.

April 14, 1959 c. R. SHEETS 2,882,490

WIRE-TESTING AND MEASURING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 28, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 TO ELECTRODE HO V.

TRHVERSE MOTOR IIO V.

FOOT SWITCH 0N BRH KE DOOR SWVTCH HO V- IN VEN TOR.

United States Patent .h-32,42 vWIRE-'msrnsro AND M EAsURIN ArPAnATUs My invention is `directed to new and improved :apparatus ffor testing insulated wire Vfor recording the footage of the tested wire.' 'i

One of the objects of my invention is to provide simple and sturdy apparatus for testing insulated wire and for measuring the footage of 'wire tested, which `apparatus requiresonly the minimum of floor space for installation, as compared withy wire-testing and measuring equipment in e'Xistenceprior to my invention.

' IIn general, my improved apparatus comprises va let-olf reel, which carries the wire, and a take-up reel, upon which the wire is wound after testing and measuring. These two reels are placed at one ,end of the apparatus. At the other end ioif'the" apparatus Iprovidea'pulleyabout which the wire is passed during operation of the apparatus, so that the wire travelsy in one`direction from the let-off reel to the pulley and is then reversed in direction'from the pulley to the talee-,up reel. In its passage from the let-oit' reel ,to the pulley the wire is being continuously tested, and as it .pas'ses'about the pulley`,'its footage is measured. Suitable controls are provided within easy reach of an attendant.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 shows my improved apparatus in plan;

Fig. 2 is a side-elevational View; and

Fig. 3 is a wiring diagram.

Referring to the drawings in detail, with particular reference to Figs. 1 and 2:

2 designates a let-off reel, mounted in suitable bearings 4 at one end of the apparatus, the reel being provided with suitable brake shoe 6 to prevent overrunning. The let-01T reel, as will be understood, carries the insulated wire which is to be tested and the footage of which is to be measured.

Mounted at the same end of the apparatus as the let-off reel is take-up reel 8, upon which the wire after being: tested and measured, is rewound. The take-up reel is. driven by reversible electric motor 10 through gear reducer 12 and is equipped with a foot-operated brake 14.

At the opposite end of the apparatus from the reels 2 and 8 I provide a pulley 16. This pulley is mounted to rotate about a perpendicular axis. The reels 2 and 8I rotate about horizontal axes.

The wire to be tested and measured has been designated, 18 and, as seen from Fig. 1, when the apparatus is in operation, the wire is drawn from the let-off reel 2 by thel take-up reel 8, passing through electric testing apparatus. 20 and then around the pulley 16, where its direction is reversed, and from thence to the take-up reel 8, where it is rewound.

The periphery of the pulley 16 is grooved to permit the wire to be set into the pulley slightly so as to accom-A modate a driving pulley 22, which bears against the face of the periphery of the pulley 16 and is connected through a flexible shaft 24 to a 'footage indicator 26. As the wire being tested is drawn around pulley 16, the pulley rotates;

so as to rotate the driving pulley 22 for the footage 70 indicator.

2,882,490 .itataafad een la, 112915? Mounted on -a suitable ybed or stand 28, intermediate the pulley 16 andthe take-up reel .'sof'as jto lbe inthe path of the wire 1,8 as itmoves from .the pulley 16 'to r.the v take-'up r'eel, are traverse mechanism 3.0'and its driving motor .32." This ,traverse mecliariism comprises the y,reversely double-threaded shaft 3'4, which Iis driven b'y the m'otor 32, and taverseinut 3 6 ,threaded `onthisshaft, so that, as the shaft is rotated',',the nut 4will ,traverse ythe shaft alternately in vone direction rand then in the opposite direction. The traverse nutcarri/es a pair of yertically extending rollers 3.8, Vspaced'frqrn eachother so that lthe wire 18 can'pasfs vbetween them'to ,the take-up xreel. 4' From the description .thus far given,` :it will be lapparent that in the 'operation of my apparatus the wire'18 is drawn off the let-of'reel 2 through/fthe testing mechanisrn 20 and then about the Pulley 16 to the ltraverse mechanism 30, by which it is guidedlto .the `take-up reel "8, thepassing of the vwireabout the pulleyilt'operating the footageA indicator 26, hso ,that'th'e wire is tested, measured, and'rewound. i i 4 From'the wiring diagram o f Fig. 3 .it will be seen that the circuits of thereversible Amotor 12 for the take-'up reeland vof the :traverse -rriotort32 are lopened and closed simultaneously by switch 40.` i i i i The electric testing Lmechanism 20 comprises a transformer 42, the primaryof which is equipped with control switch 44, arranged -to vary the output of'the'transformer in a well known manner,l to 'accommodate the apparatus for testing' insulatedV wires having fdierent Velectrical c har'acteri'stics.4 It will be s een from ,theA diagram'that the inpu'tfor primary ofthe transformer 42 controlled by the `switch .40, 'so that'the" circuit of the transformerwill be closed and opened with closure and openingiof the circuits of the two motors 12 and 32.

The foot-operated brake 14 for the take-up reel 8 carries a switch 46, which is in series with the switch 40, so that in the first movement of the brake toward applied position the circuits to the two motors 12 and 32 and to the transformer 42 will be opened, lthereby avoiding application of the brake with motor and transformer circuits closed.

48 designates a normally closed switch in series with the main switch 4t). In testing the Wire, its conductor is grounded and an electrode to which the secondary of the transformer 42 is electrically connected bears against the wire insulation. As long as the wire insulation is satisfactory, the switch 48 remains closed. However, when a fault is encountered in the Wire insulationand this may be a break in the insulation or simply a spot where the insulating properties of the insulation are below standard-the switch 48 will open, thereby opening the motor circuits and bringing the apparatus to rest. The attendant then opens the switch 40, makes the necessary repairs to the wire, and then again closes the switch 40, switch 48 closing automatically, of course, upon the closure of switch 40, and the apparatus will resume operation and continue until the wire supply is exhausted or until another fault is encountered.

From all of the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided an apparatus for the testing and measuring of insulated wire which is simple, sturdy, and compact, so as to require the minimum of floor space for installation and the minimum of skill for its operation.

It is to be understood that changes may 'be made in the details of construction and arrangement of parts hereinabove described within the purview of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. Wire-testing and measuring apparatus comprising, in combination, a let-off reel and a take-up reel mounted at one end of the apparatus and rotatable about horizontal axes; a pulleyat the other end of the apparatus rotatable about a vertical axis; means `for driving the' take-up reel to draw a wire from the let-off reel and rewind it upon the take-up reel, the wire beingbx reversed in its direction of travelby passing about the pulley, 'and the periphery of ysaid pulley being grooved to receive the wire; a footage indicator for indicating the wire footgepassed about said pulley; and a drive for said indicatorcornprising a driving pulley overlying the Wire out of contact therewith and bearing against the periphery of the first-mentioned pulley so as to be frictionally driven thereby, and a exible shaft attached to the driving pulley'and to thel said indicator.

2. Wire-testing and measuring apparatus comprising, in combination, a let-otl reel and a take-up reel mounted at one* end of Athe apparatus and rotatable about horizontal axes; a pulley at the other end of the apparatus rotatable about a vertical axis; 'an electric motor for driving the take-up reel to draw a wire from the let-off reel about said pulley to the take-up reel; a footage indicator for indicating the wire footage passed about said pulley; a driving pulley frictionally driven from the periphery of the first-mentioned pulley; a flexible shaft attached to footage indicator and traversing mechanism intermediate the said pulley and the take-up reel; a driving pulley frictionally driven from the periphery of the lirst-mentioned pulley; a flexible shaft attached to said driving pulley and to said indicator for driving the latter; an electric motor for driving the traverse mechanism; and a switch common to both motors and to the wire-testing mechanism for the simultaneous opening and Yclosing of the circuits. of said motors and the wire-testing mechanism.

4. Wire-testingand measuring apparatus comprising; in combination, a let-o reel and a take-up reel mounted at one end of the apparatus; a pulley at the other end of the apparatus; an electric motor for driving the take-up reel to draw wire `lfrom the let-off reel about said pulley and rewind it upon the take-up'reel; electric wire-testing mechanism intermediate the let-off reel and pulley; a footage indicator intermediate the said pulley. and take-up Y reel; a driving pulley lfrictionally driven from the periphsaid driving pulley and to said indicator for driving the latter; traversing mechanism intermediate said pulleys and take-up reel for guiding the wire to the take-up reel; an electric motor for driving the traverse mechanism; and a switch common to both motors for opening and closing the circuits of said motors simultaneously.

" 3. Wire-testing and measuring apparatus comprising, in combination, a let-olf reel and a take-up reel mounted at one end of the apparatus; a pulley at the other end of the apparatus; an electric motor lfor driving the take-up reel to draw wire from the let-off reel about said pulley and to the take-up reel; electric wire-testing mechanism intermediate the let-off reel and said pulley for the continuous testing of the wire `as it passes to said pulley; a

ery of the first-mentioned pulley; a exible shaft connecting the said driving pulley to said footage indicator to drive the indicator; traversing mechanism for the wire intermediate `the said driving pulley and take-up reel; an electric motor for driving the traverse mechanism; a foot brake for the first-mentioned electric motor; and a switch' References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,099,112 2,707,332 Smith a May 3, l955- 2,753,521 y Abrams July 3, 1956' Hur Nov. 16, 1937I 

